Ethiopian Journal of Development Research

Vulnerability and Adaptive Capacity of Pastoral and Agro-pastoral Households in Ethiopia: Evidence from Six Regions

2026-01-25T16:57:14+00:00

Abstract

Pastoral and agro-pastoral (PAP) households in Ethiopia face increasing climate-induced hazards and shocks, threatening their livelihoods. Understanding their perceptions of climate change, vulnerability, and adaptive capacity is crucial for developing effective climate resilience strategies. This study investigates PAP households’ perceptions of climate-induced change and their vulnerability by measuring exposure and sensitivity and evaluating their adaptive capacity to climate-induced shocks. Data were collected using household surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews and analyzed using qualitative and qualitative techniques. The study found that PAP households perceive warming trends in temperature; unreliable rainfall patterns and increasing frequencies and severity of climate-induced hazards, which adversely affect livestock and crop production. These perceptions are consistent with observed climate change trends in pastoral areas. The study identified drought, economic shocks, floods, food crises and disease outbreak as the main shocks faced by PAP households. In response, households have adopted various adaptive strategies including asset building, adjustments in livestock management and crop production; and coping strategies for food shortages. These proactive measures aim to mitigate the impacts of climate-induced shocks. The study concludes that climate induced hazards and shocks will continue to be major constraints to livelihood activities in PAP areas. Therefore, future development programs and policy interventions should consider these shocks in their resilience-building strategies. Strengthening and complementing community-driven adaptation efforts with government support can enhance the effectiveness of climate adaptation initiatives, ensuring long-term sustainability and synergy between external interventions and local practices.

Keywords: Climate change, pastoralism, livelihoods, exposure, sensitivity, resilience, Ethiopia

Determinants of Young People not in Employment, Education and Training (NEET) in Rural Ethiopia

2025-12-10T08:15:34+00:00

Critical Lessons from South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), with Insights from Global Practice for Transitional Justice and Sustainable Peace in Ethiopia.

2026-01-27T06:40:42+00:00

This study examined the experience of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), with insights from global practices to draw practical lessons for Ethiopia's transitional justice initiative. Through a systematic analysis of secondary data, including scholarly books, articles, legal documents, and thematic analysis, the research investigated the design, implementation, and outcomes of the South African TRC and global practices. The analysis identified seven critical insights that Ethiopia can consider while designing and implementing its transitional justice initiative : transitional justice as foundation for national cohesion; the foundational importance of religious and traditional institutions in reconciliation; the importance of addressing systemic violence ; limitations in reparations policy and their implementation; the problems associated with arbitrary cut-off dates; the strategic importance of coordinating transitional justice mechanisms ; and the importance of proactively mitigating perceptual and operational risks. While the South African TRC and global practices provide a valuable repository of knowledge, its lessons cannot be mechanically transplanted. Instead, Ethiopia must engage in a critical and context-sensitive adaptation of these insights, carefully tailoring them to its unique historical, political, economic, social, and cultural dynamics. The paper concludes with specific recommendations for crafting a more effective and locally grounded transitional justice framework in Ethiopia.

The Positive Impact of Harvesting on Adolescent Food Security and Dietary Outcomes: Examining Diet Diversity, Food Consumption, Food Security and Coping Strategies in Machakel, Northwest Ethiopia

2025-12-30T17:08:16+00:00

Adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa face significant food and nutrition security challenges, worsened by socio-economic factors, limited access to nutritious food, and seasonal changes. This cross-sequential, mixed-method study examined dietary diversity, food consumption, and food security among 410 high school students in Machakel district, Northwest Ethiopia, during pre-harvest and post-harvest seasons. Quantitative data were gathered using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), Food Consumption Score (FCS), and Dietary Diversity Score (DDS), and analyzed with descriptive statistics, chi-square, and Wilcoxon tests (STATA 17). Qualitative data on coping strategies collected through interviews and focus group discussions were analyzed using MAX QDA. Results showed a significant improvement in food security and dietary diversity after harvest. Before harvest, 26.8% of students were food secure, compared to 61.9% after harvest. Similarly, severe food insecurity dropped from 1.7% to 0.9%. Dietary diversity and food consumption scores also increased significantly after harvest, changing from mostly low scores before harvest to acceptable and high scores afterward. Socioeconomic factors, such as living arrangements, school distance, parental education, and household socioeconomic status, were significantly linked to food security and dietary diversity. During food-insecure times, coping strategies included sharing resources, community support, borrowing, and theft. This study highlighted significant seasonal and socio-economic differences in adolescent food and nutrition security. Year-round, comprehensive interventions are crucial to address these gaps, such as school feeding programs, nutrition education, and social support systems. These efforts should aim to boost adolescent resilience and promote long-term health by providing consistent access to nutritious food and reducing the effects of socio-economic vulnerabilities

Design, implementation and sustainability of Japanese development cooperation in Ethiopia: a study of selected cases

2026-04-10T12:54:56+00:00

This article examines the design, implementation, and sustainability of Japanese development cooperation projects in Ethiopia. Key case studies include the Alemgena Training and Testing Centre’s role in heavy machinery training, the Ethiopian Water Technology Institute’s support for water sector education and technology transfer, and Japanese-backed rice sector development supported by Japan’s development cooperation. These efforts have strengthened Ethiopia’s capacity in human resources, infrastructure, and institutional development, advancing goals such as rice self-sufficiency. Success is attributed to Japan’s targeted approach, long-term strategic planning, and comprehensive interventions, ensuring sustainable and impactful development outcomes.

The effect of Ethical Public Leadership on public servants’ behavior: a comparative multilevel analysis on organizational citizenship behavior and performance

2026-02-25T09:55:57+00:00

Ethical standards in public leadership serve as moral principles that guide leaders' actions set by administrative discretion. Ethical public leadership builds trust through transparency and accountability, promotes fairness in governance, discourages corruption, and inspires positive change and innovations. Although ethical public leadership plays these crucial roles in the public sector, its influence on public servants’ behavior is not adequately explored across administrative levels. This article investigates the effect of ethical leadership on public servants’ behavior with particular reference to organizational citizenship behavior and performance across administrative levels. Quantitative research approach with survey research design was applied to determine their relationship. Representative samples were drawn using stratified sampling at each administrative level independently. The data were collected using self-administered questionnaire. Simple linear regression was applied to analyze the data. The findings indicated that ethical public leadership positively correlated with organizational citizenship behavior and performance at all administrative levels. It has a more substantial influence on performance than on organizational citizenship behavior. It influences public servants’ behavior with varying magnitude across administrative levels. Notably, the strongest predictive capacity is observed at the zonal level followed by local level. The variances in effectiveness across administrative levels attributed to contextual factors such as autonomy and oversight. Hence, ethical public leadership is an important organizational factor that affect behavior and more effective at local administrative levels. These insights underscore the necessity for public organizations to invest in tailored ethical leadership development programs to optimize organizational outcomes and cultivate a culture of integrity and accountability.